Book Review: A History of Data Visualization and Graphic Communication by Michael Friendly and Howard Wainer

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I read the 2021 version.


Summary

As the title says, this book is a study and recount of the past on data charts and visual displays. It writes about important historical figures (people and graphics alike) in data visualisation. However, the book sometimes feels like it is more about the people behind the data vizzes than the historical data vizzes. Written in chronological order of the evolution of data visualisation, it collects the stories about the situation in which the different charts are born and explains how to read the charts. A particular point to note is the authors' special attention to scatter plots as it gives it a chapter on its own. While the fundamental bar, line and pie charts do not receive their own chapters, the man behind them, William Fairplay, does get a chapter dedicated to him. 


Things I Like

1. Historical graphics. The book contains images of the original and reproduced versions of the historical works. It allows readers to see how charts have come to be and change over time. From hand-drawn graphs to computer-generated visualisations, the evolution of data visualisation is packed into a single book.

2. In-depth references. Written like a book on history, the book contains many references that point readers to sources and more reading materials. This is an eye-opener for anyone seeking to deep-dive into the data visualisation history.

3. Historical angle. As a book collecting the different data vizzes throughout history in a chronological format, it allows readers to gain an appreciation for the charts and graphs we use. It also highlights how circumstances lead to marvellous inventions in the form of graphic communication that is used today.


Final Verdict: A book that recounts the history of the development of data viz that tells the story of the graphs and people behind them.